Abstract. This paper studies regularity property of the value function for an infinite-horizon discounted cost impulse control problem, where the underlying controlled process is a multidimensional jump diffusion with possibly 'infinite-activity' jumps. Surprisingly, despite these jumps, we obtain the same degree of regularity as for the diffusion case, at least when the jump satisfies certain integrability conditions.

Value functions of impulse control problems are known to satisfy Quasi-Variational Inequalities (QVI) (Bensoussan and Lions (1982)). This paper proves the smooth-fit C 1 property of the value function for multi-dimensional controlled diffusions, using a viscosity solution approach. We show by examples how to exploit this regularity property to derive explicitly optimal policy and value function.

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This study was carried out on nanocomposites consisting of nanometer silica fillers embedded in thermoset polymers that were prepared via the in situ polymerization of ultraviolet (UV) curable systems containing different contents of nanometer silicas by irradiation of UV light. Because of the introduction of nanosilicas, the curing rates of the UV curing of dispersing systems were played down; that is, the curing times were prolonged, but the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites, such as tensile strength and Young's modulus, increased, and the thermostability of the nanocomposites at temperatures lower than 400 K improved. The dispersing states of nanometer silicas within the polymer matrix were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, and the results show that the nanometer silicas had good homogeneously dispersing states within nanocomposites containing less than 3 wt % nanometer silicas.

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Based on the available data, statins persistently decreased all-cause mortality and the incidence of rehospitalisation for heart failure in CHF patients, and the benefits might be partially associated with use of specific statin.

A binuclear aluminium(III) chelate with rigid and flexible mixed ligands has been synthesized and structurally characterized, which exhibits polymer-like molecular packing and solution-processiblity, as well as high photoluminescence quantum yield for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs); with this new compound as the emissive and host layer, the multi-layer OLEDs prepared via low-cost spin-coating showed encouraging performance.

Melatonin exerts neuroprotective effects on isoflurane-induced cognitive impairment. However, the underlying mechanism has yet to be elucidated. The present study sought to determine if melatonin confers its beneficial effects by acting on mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and attenuates the neuroinflammation in the hippocampus of aged mice. A total of 72 male C57BL/6 mice, 16-month-old, were randomly and equally divided into six groups: (1) the control group (CON); (2) the rapamycin group (RAP); (3) the melatonin group (MEL); (4) the isoflurane group (ISO); (5) the rapamycin + isoflurane group (RAP + ISO); and (6) the melatonin + isoflurane group (MEL + ISO). RAP, RAP + ISO, MEL, MEL + ISO groups received 1 mg/kg/day mTOR inhibitor rapamycin solution or 10 mg/kg/day melatonin solution, respectively, intraperitoneally at 5:00 p.m. for 14 days consecutively. Mice in the CON and ISO groups were administered an equivalent volume of saline. Subsequently, ISO, RAP + ISO, and MEL + ISO groups were exposed to inhale 2% isoflurane for 4 h; the CON, RAP, and MEL mice received only the vehicle gas. Then, the memory function and spatial learning of the mice were examined via the Morris water maze (MWM) test. mTOR expression was detected via Western blot, whereas the concentration of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and that of melatonin was quantified with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Melatonin and rapamycin significantly ameliorated the isoflurane-induced cognitive impairment and also led to a decrease in the melatonin levels as well as the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and p-mTOR in the hippocampus. In conclusion, these results showed that melatonin and rapamycin attenuates mTOR expression while affecting the downstream proinflammatory cytokines. Thus, these molecular findings could be associated with an improved cognitive function in mice exposed to isoflurane.